Delaware Valley University

Why DelVal?

One of the leading academic institutions in the Northeast, DelVal is a small, close-knit university known for its innovative use of experiential (hands-on) learning.

In 1896, visionary scholar, educator and activist Joseph Krauskopf founded the National Farm School based on the idea of “science with practice”—the combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience. Today, as Delaware Valley University, the institution offers 28 undergraduate majors in the natural sciences, business, and humanities; more than seven master's degrees; and a doctoral degree. Yet after more than a century, DelVal continues to define and refine “science with practice”—known today as “experiential learning.” We call it E360, and it defines our curriculum from the first day of freshman year.

At DelVal, you’ll study theory in small classes, then learn by doing in facilities and fields across our 1,000+ acres of land. Since our student-to-faculty ratio is just 13:1, you will quickly become part of a close-knit campus with plenty of personal attention and mentoring. DelVal is more than a university—it’s a community of inspiring, intelligent and imaginative thinkers who care not only about learning and sharing good times, but finding answers to the most critical questions in our communities and on our planet.

Why DelVal?
There are many reasons that DelVal may be the right choice for you. Whether your dream is to become a veterinarian, a writer, a horticulturist, a chemist, a landscape architect, a zookeeper, successful in the food or agribusiness industries, or an entrepreneur in any field, we have the tools to help you design your path and realize your dream.

1) You will be part of a close community of students, faculty, and staff.
From the first day, you’ll find our small, close-knit campus is a place where warm connections grow naturally. DelVal’s many clubs, activities and internship opportunities make it easy to get involved with what interests you, building friendships with fellow students, faculty, and the greater DelVal community.

Activities are a vital part of the total DelVal experience. We want you to explore and discover your interests outside of the classroom, and we provide the clubs, organizations, and community service projects to do just that.

2) DelVal graduates succeed in the real world because they have already been there.
Our Experience 360 (E360) program is much more than an “internship” program. You will build your career from day one and throughout your undergraduate experience. In addition to classes and labs that take place on our 1,000 acres of living laboratories, you will have the opportunity to gain experience at Fortune 500 companies and respected institutions like Campbell's, the Philadelphia Zoo, Kellogg’s, Pepsi, The National Constitution Center, Wawa, and Turkey Hill, to name just a few.

3) DelVal offers unique programs that you cannot find at many other schools.
You can study agribusiness, food science, dairy science, equine science, animal science and zoo science, to name a few. And at DelVal, you can work with animals in year one. Interested in business or the humanities? How about Writing and Literary Studies, History, Policy and Society, or Business Administration. All of our programs give you the same hands-on opportunity to graduate with experience on your résumé.

4) DelVal offers a dozen “4 + 1” programs that allow you to earn your bachelor and master’s degrees in just 5 years.
You can take courses in your senior year that count towards both your undergraduate and graduate degree, saving you time and money. DelVal offers 4 + 1 programs in: MBA, Management and Organizational Leadership, Public Policy, Healthcare Administration, and Criminal Justice.

5) DelVal is an affordable option and competitive with public school options for most students.
At DelVal we are committed to making education affordable for students and their families. Ninety-eight percent of students receive financial aid, and the average scholarship/grant aid package for the 2024/2025 year was $27,700. This number does not include any student loans.

And…
We should probably mention our football team. Our Aggies are one of the top Division III programs in the country with seven Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships. Go Aggies!